Vanstone: Solid start for Roughriders interim GM Jeremy O’Day | Video

This column has 22 minutes. That is the amount of time Saskatchewan Roughriders interim vice-president of football operations and general manager Jeremy O’Day spent entertaining questions — which weren’t necessarily entertaining — from the media carnivores who encircled him Tuesday morning on Taylor Field.

That is the amount of time Saskatchewan Roughriders interim vice-president of football operations and general manager Jeremy O’Day spent entertaining questions — which weren’t necessarily entertaining — from the media carnivores who encircled him Tuesday morning on Taylor Field.

None of the responses were headline-grabbers. My opposable thumbs (it’s a skill) did not begin trembling at the notion of disseminating O’Day’s responses via Twitter.

But his first solo session with the media, en masse, since assuming his new roles was solid and substantial, if not spectacular.

It was what one would expect from O’Day, considering the way he carried himself during a long and successful career as a CFL offensive lineman. Aside from the two touchdown passes — including one from Doug Flutie — that O’Day caught before becoming a mainstay at centre for the Roughriders, there weren’t any highlight-reel plays, but the job got done.

Tuesday’s extended yak session was typical Jeremy O’Day. It was efficient, it was productive, and it had longevity (22 minutes being an eternity in an era in which media scrums seldom reach the double-digit mark).

The only news, per se, was the announcement that Regina-born centre Dan Clark — whose play as a first-year starter has been a high point in a sorry season for the Roughriders — had signed a contract extension.

Clark noted that he did not expect to be discussing such a transaction until, say, January or February, but O’Day initiated talks that were conducted amicably and fruitfully.

Clark and O’Day are the rare offensive linemen who can each boast of two career touchdown receptions but, clearly, there was a common ground in other areas.

Again, the consummation of a deal with an offensive lineman is not going to prompt a pedestrian parade down Albert Street, or even Regina’s version of Park Avenue (honestly, there is one).

It was, however, a solid first step. The new agreement with a home-grown centre was O’Day’s first major transaction as the interim successor to Brendan Taman, who was fired — along with head coach Corey Chamblin — one day after the Roughriders’ record plummeted to 0-9. The Green and White has since gone 1-2 under O’Day and interim head coach Bob Dyce.

Dyce and O’Day are in an unenviable position. They are saddled with one of the worst teams in franchise history (which is saying something) and hamstrung by the circumstances.

A few victories would strengthen the case in favour of retaining O’Day and Dyce beyond this season. Yet, the Roughriders cannot be so preoccupied with winning that they are excessively reliant on veterans at a time when player development should be the emphasis.

Somehow, some way, O’Day must establish a balance between placating victory-starved fans in the short term and ensuring that the team is stable in the long run, even though someone else may very well be in charge of the football operations by that point.

Central to the debate is this question: What to do with Kevin Glenn?

In the absence of Darian Durant, who suffered a ruptured left Achilles tendon in the regular-season opener, the 36-year-old Glenn is incontestably the Riders’ best quarterback. And he will continue to start as long as Saskatchewan has even the tiniest mathematical chance of making the playoffs.

But then what? Brett Smith, 23, is a young quarterback of considerable promise. He experienced the ups and downs of life as a rookie pivot during the six games in which Glenn was sidelined with a torn right pectoral muscle.

Do the Roughriders hand the reins back to Smith once the pipe dream of the playoffs is officially squelched? Do they keep playing Glenn, who provides the best hope for short-term success, in an all-out attempt to avert a one- or two-win season that will long be remembered for all the wrong reasons?

Do they trade Glenn if, at some point, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats — who have lost starting signal-caller Zach Collaros for the season due to a knee injury — suddenly become interested?

Failing that, what about Glenn’s future? O’Day disclosed Tuesday that Glenn is not under contract beyond this season. Should he be re-signed?

Ultimately, that decision might not be O’Day’s to make. Some fans, and possibly some voices from within the organization, will clamour for the Roughriders to hire a so-called marquee general manager, who might also moonlight as the head coach.

It has been wildly speculated that the Roughriders will attempt to pry John Hufnagel away from the Calgary Stampeders.

The name of former Montreal Alouettes head coach Marc Trestman, who is currently the Baltimore Ravens’ offensive co-ordinator, has been brought up (although such conjecture is sheer fantasy).

The Roughriders, who routinely take in seven-figure profits, certainly possess enough resources to allow them to woo a big-name candidate.

But after listening to Jeremy O’Day on Tuesday, I had to wonder if the best man for the job already occupies the GM’s chair.

This Week's Flyers

Comments

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.